Despite opposition from numerous quarters, despite facts presented, the Rudd government is going ahead with tests of an ISP-level filter.
With an attitude of utter contempt for the Australian people, the government is not revealing any details that would aid the public in understanding why they feel it is necessary. In fact, they are making a point of withholding information from the Australian public, point-blank refusing to answer questions and doing a 180 degree turn on the promise that any filter would be opt-out.
In the face of findings that reportedly show the filter system would only slow down the ‘net but not do much good (but how the hell would we know for sure — our tax dollars only PAID FOR THE REPORT, BUT WE’RE NOT ALLOWED TO SEE IT) — the formerly self-styled “fiscal conservatives” running the country are going to blow millions on testing a broken system that will only ensure we remain at the back of the pack. And with the “global economic downturn” (or GED as they style it) — it doesn’t see to be a good time to be gambling — with either our money or our future.
The internet is, after all, our pipeline in and out for education, commerce, research, entertainment and communication — so why the secrecy? And why the apathy from most of the other parties?
Here’s the Australian article to get you started on your own research into this issue: http://www.theage.com.au/national/internet-censor-scheme-flawed-20081222-73ne.html
It’s so frustrating that the government refuses to treat us with respect on this issue by opening a dialogue. Saying sorry after they’ve wasted money and sent us backwards won’t be good enough. Though that might be just how the people who voted this government in are starting to feel.
Back in August, Rudd confessed that he believes intelligent design is responsible for the universe. Pity he doesn’t feel the same way about ISP-level filtering.

“I’m not exaggerating when I say that this model involves more technical interference in the internet infrastructure than what is attempted in Iran, one of the most repressive and regressive censorship regimes in the world.” Colin Jacobs, chair of the online users’ lobby group Electronic Frontiers Australia, as quoted in the Sydney Morning Herald, 24 October 2008.
Nope, this isn’t a post about China or a dictatorship (at least, not an official one) that’s the subject of this blog post. It’s the Australian government’s short on detail long on self-righteous rhetoric approach to “protecting our children”.
I don’t know why suddenly everyone is shocked. Internet filtering at the ISP level has reared its ugly head on both sides of the Australian Parliament. The latest effort was in March 2006 when then-Labour-leader Kim Beazley pounded his fist in righteous indignation “for the sake of the children”. Of course that led to the then Howard-government’s disastrous filter for every home mail-out that then year 10 student Tom Wood cracked in less time than it takes to watch an episode of that soft-core porn TV fav “Big Brother”.
In January, Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy Stephen Conroy resurrected the cause and attempted to stifle debate on the issues, as I blogged in the post “Disagree and you are an anti-Australian pervert.”
Things seemed to go quiet until April with the government introducing amendments to the Telecommunications act that would reportedly “force all telecommunications providers to facilitate lawful data interception across fixed and mobile telephone systems, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), Instant Messaging (IM) and chat room discussions”
Now it’s on again — time to educate yourself and choose a side.
This Thursday 30 October, the Hon. Stephen Conroy will be intereviewed on ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) radio national’s Media Report program – 8:30am AEDT, repeated 8pm. His interview will immediately be followed by one with respected futurist, educator and programmer Mark Pesce. Hopefully the audio and transcript will be up on the Media Report site not long after.
If you’d like to do some homework in advance, WA Greens Senator Scott Ludlam’s web site provides a transcript of a conversation he had with Mr. Conroy in an estimates hearing — http://scott-ludlam.greensmps.org.au/content/transcript/cybersafety-net-filtering
Read up, listen in and take a stance. Mr. Conroy says it’s early days yet – so we all have time to feed into this debate.
Finally, despite the fact I am not a Greens supporter, I have to say how blown away I was by Senator Ludlam’s blog and the Green’s site. It’s the antithesis of Senator Conroy’s deadly boring web 1.0 pixel ghetto and proves who is in touch with how the internet is used and who gets “briefings”.

In Australia, most schools operate on a white list system when it comes to the web sites they can access. Educators have to apply for sites to be unblocked for classroom use and some sites are banned with no hope of unblocking them. The practitioners I’ve talked to are feeling frustrated – they’d like to explore new ways of engaging their students, but having to continually request sites be unblocked or finding a site that wasn’t blocked now is can put it all in the “too hard basket”.
Recently, an educator who had successfully been running a blogging program with his Year 3 students for a few years was told to remove the blog with the kids blogs and photos (all had parental permissions slips signed) due to safety concerns. http://alupton.edublogs.org/
Even in institutions catering to older students such as TAFEs, educators face the blockage of sites such as Twitter that can be valuable as a professional development networking tool if someone up the chain deems it to have no educational value.
I work for national, not for profit educational organisation called education.au We are owned by the federal and state education departments with the goal of supporting practitioners and administrators in the use of ICTs. We also aim to provide leadership in the innovative use of online and offline tools.
Part of my role involves producing a podcast for educators – E-learning Insights http://www.edna.edu.au/edna/go/news/podcast/eli.
To provide educators and administrators with case studies of programs that are successfully balancing risk and opportunity, I have set up a voice board to allow educators who are using social media and online tools with students to record their stories.
Here is where the voice board is located: http://sandpit.edna.edu.au/course/view.php?id=118
Due to licensing issues, users need to have an account with education network Australia (edna) services and log into the site in order to participate.
Alternately, you can send me a link to an audio file you’ve already created or an email to read out. Please include a link (or mention) of your blog or other online site so that we can make a credible link between your story and you. My email address is kjohnson at educationau.edu.au (replace “at with @ to use).
Thank you for helping to open up discussion on this issue.
I’d like to get all submissions in by Wednesday, April 30th Australia time (Tuesday 29 April US and Europe).
If you know of other educators working with students online whom you feel would make a valuable contribution, please forward this information on to them.
Cheers
KerryJ

In a Bush-like move to stifle opposition, the newly installed Labour government has tried to position anyone who is FOR freedom of speech and against their filtering policies as porn-loving child molestors.
This from the Telecommunications Minister, Stephen Conroy:
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Welcome!

What I love about my work
Creating visual, authentic, interactive experiences that stretch learners and gives them incidental learning in the information and digital literacies that will prepare them for online learning.

My favourite learner quote
I could barely turn a computer on when I started this course. I am leaving it having presented in a webinar and so much more confident in using technology!

What's this blog about?
Neotenous means to retain a childlike sense of wonder and excitement no matter what your age. This is my space to share my professional and personal learning journey in the use of technology to support learning. Some posts will be nuts and bolts, others will focus on issues, others still on research. All are my own work and my own views.